Issues with Machinist design

[Kalise]

Yes, but isn't that merely due to the futility they'd otherwise face in using a melee weapon on an enemy flying dozens of feet above them?

They're trading limited ranged for nearly unlimited range by, effectively, flying.

Not really. All Dragoons are able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

That's not specific to the Azure Dragoon(s). Azure Dragoons get increased power from Dragon based enhancements and aetherial dragons (For example, Geirskogul/Nastrond)

A MCH, by comparison, would be trading a mechanical gun-fired projectile for a self-propelled non-mechanical 'projectile' that simply cannot be fired from a gun and sees no benefit from being "fired" at all (a... dragon... something from the toolkits of XI DRGs and maybe Beastmasters).

Who says they have to not fire it from a gun? Especially when aethereal manipulation is allowing them to conjure rockets and missiles out of thin air or shoot out bullets that explode into balls of lightning.

I'm sure there exists some possibilities to allow for them to effectively shoot people with dragons.

[Shurrikhan]

Not really. All Dragoons are able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

And all Dragoons are native-born Ishgardians, all of whom are able to exhibit traits of dragonkin if the allow themselves. We don't see random spearmen just saying, "What's 200 ft? I'll just jump and then stab it. Easy."

Who says they have to not fire it from a gun? Especially when aethereal manipulation is allowing them to conjure rockets and missiles out of thin air or shoot out bullets that explode into balls of lightning.

I'm sure there exists some possibilities to allow for them to effectively shoot people with dragons.

Ahhhhh. Okay, I get it now, sorry. Yup. Sounds good.